Gavin Newman: Candidate Profile

Back to Barrington Unit District 220 School Board

Note: Answers provided have not been edited for grammar, misspellings or typos. In some instances, candidate claims that could not be immediately verified have been omitted. Jump to:BioQA Bio City: BarringtonWebsite: Candidate did not respond.Twitter: Candidate did not respond.Facebook: Gavin Newman For D220 BOEOffice sought: Barrington Unit District 220 School Board Age: Candidate did not respond.Family: Married to Jenn Newman, proud parents of two childrenOccupation: BankingEducation: University of Iowa, Tippie College of Business: Bachelor of Arts degree in FinanceCivic involvement: Candidate did not respond.Elected offices held: NoneQuestions Answers Why are you running for this office, whether for re-election or election the first time? Is there a particular issue that motivates you, and if so, what is it?I am a proud product of the Barrington community and having attended District 220 schools from Kindergarten through graduation from Barrington High School, is a real motivating factor. Being the son of a District 220 teacher who devoted more than 20 years to Barrington schools, I learned early on that quality education begins with solid, well-rounded educators using all the latest tools and resources available to deliver meaningful learning experiences for their students. Like so many who start their careers in the big city, when it came time for my wife Jennifer and I to raise our young family, leaving Chicago and returning to Barrington was an easy decision. Currently, both children attend Hough Street School. We based that decision on our own experiences in District 220 and on the District's continued commitment to excellence in education at all grade levels. Based on my professional background, being in the banking industry for close to 20 years, I have significant experience in negotiating skills coupled with a strong finance understanding on what it takes to build and manage to a budget. I believe my experience will complement the existing Board.What do you think about the process for measuring student success in your district? Is it adequate? What changes, if any, do you propose?Measuring student success is important across all students/schools in the District. This allows the Board, in conjunction with the administrators and educators, to determine if the curriculum and instructional programs are having the intended success. The data continues to suggest that District 220 performs at a very high level when compared to other schools in Illinois.How big a role do you think the board of education should play in setting the curriculum for students and what ideas do you have for changes to the current curriculum?Setting the curriculum should be a collaborative process between the administrators, educators and the Board, with the ultimate goal of giving students the best chance to succeed at the current grade level and while continuing to prepare for the future. As the curriculum can be a moving target, this gets back to the prior question and why accountability and measuring success is important. As we continue to navigate through the changes in technology and its use while educating, I do believe, albeit expensive, the One to World program is very innovative and will benefit District 220 students in the future.What budget issues will your district have to confront and what measures do you support to address them? If you believe cuts are necessary, what programs and expenses should be reduced or eliminated? On the income side, do you support any tax or fee increases?The Board has done an admirable job of maintaining a high level of education for District 220 students while balancing a complex budget. The Board will continue to face difficult issues in the coming years: to maintain the fiscal discipline which Barrington taxpayers have come to expect; to react to potential decreases in state reimbursements; and to anticipate the possible shift in pension obligations from the state to the District level. Simply raising taxes or reducing/eliminating programs are not acceptable options. I feel that new and innovative solutions must be considered to balance the costs of operation with the expected outcomes. Even if facing a threat to our AAA bond rating, budget cuts must be tempered with positive focus on maintaining small class sizes. Such efforts become increasingly important as the District now enters the initial phase of planning long-term, renovation projects.What role can and should school choice play in your district? If Congress or the state approves a voucher system or other means giving students broader choices among public and private schools, how will that affect your district? What is the appropriate response for the board of education of a public school system?Based on the high level of consistent education that all District 220 schools deliver, in preparation for long-term success, I personally don't envision a scenario where students would look outside the education options that are now being offered.What other issues, if any, are important to you as a candidate for this office?I get a kick out of asking Barrington newcomers with children why they moved to Barrington, and in particular, "Why did you move forty miles from the city?" In almost every case, the answer comes back, "Barrington schools!" That quick response is the reason that the District 220 School Board needs to not only sustain a focused approach to delivering a strong educational foundation, but also growth and innovation to supply its graduates with the best knowledge and skills to begin successful careers.Please name one current leader who most inspires you.Candidate did not respond.What is the biggest lesson you learned at home growing up?Candidate did not respond.If life gave you one do-over, what would you spend it on?Candidate did not respond.What was your favorite subject in school and how did it help you in later life?Candidate did not respond.If you could give your children only one piece of advice, what would it be?Candidate did not respond.